Rotary gasoline engine



ROTARY GA'soLINE ENGINE m-rf- Dec. l,` 1936.

` ROTARY GAsoLINE ENGINE FiledNov. 9, 19:54 4 sheets-sheet 2 'at 27 s a@ @f Dec. l, 1936. A. W.LINN 2,062,753

` ROTARY GAsopINEENGINE Filed Nov. 9, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 4 Tiff Patented Dec. 1, 1936 NT oFFI'cE .ROTARY GASOLINE ENGINE Albert W.- Linn, Memphis, Tenn. y l Application November 9, 1934, Serial No. 752,298 (c1. 12a-.13)

, are respectively cylindrical compressor and com- 2 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to rotary internal combustion engines comprising a stationary enclosing casing, sections of which in planes perpendicular to the axis of the engine are circular, and a rotating element or rotors, with a piston orvane therein, together with an element, designated an abutment movable in itself, but fixed relative to the rotarymovement of the vane; said casing, abutments, and a portion of the vane enclosing an annular spacing chamber within which theburned gases are closed and permitted to act expansively thereby impelling the piston.

The primary object of this invention is to pro.` vide adevice of this kind in which a substantially similar structure is associated to act as a compressor `for furnishing combustion products' to the iiring chamber, the rotor, vane andabutment of such compression chamber being respectively coordinated with and caused to move with the complementary parts in the firing chamber.

A further object is to simplify and improve the design of such a structure:-

The means by which these and other objects are accomplished and the manner of their Aaccomplishment will be readily understood from the. following specification on reference to the accompanying drawing, in which.- Fig. 1 is a verticalsectional elevation through the combustion chambers and at right angles to .the axis of the rotary parts, taken as on the line I-I of Fig. 2, showing relation of the parts at the end of expansion and just prior to admitting and firing a new charge.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken as on the line II--II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation complementary to Fig. 1 taken as on the line III-III of Fig. 2 showing the compressor side of the casing and the compressor parts thereof, the timperiod'being identical with that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken as on the line IV-v-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section identical with Fig. 1 except that it shows the relation of the parts during expansion.

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 3, except for timing which conforms to Fig. 5, and is during intake and compression strokes.

Fig.'7 is a plannview of the device on a slightly reduced scale, and

- Fig. 8 a corresponding front elevation of the device.' Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by'numerals, I0 andi! yhalf the' diameter of the rotors` I4,l I5.

chambers I8 and 20, I9 and 2| are respectively 20 bustion chambersV preferably of equal diameter, which are separated by a flat division wall I2 in which is journaled a shaft I3 with which' both chambers are concentric.

l. 5 Disposed within the chambers Illand II are cylindrical rotating elements or rotors I4 and I5 of less diameter than the chambers, both ,ele-v ments being mounted on and's'ecured tojthe shaft I3 as by keys I6 and I'I respectively. These 10 rotors are of equal diameter andare concentric with the shaft and the chambers.' PositionedA laterally outward on opposite slides ofgthe-,chamber I0, are cylindrical abutment chambersfl, i9, and on opposite sides of the chamber I I, sim- 15 ilar abutment chambers 20, 2I which respectively cut into opposite vsides of the chambers I0 and` I I, these abutment chambers being precisely one- 'The separatedv by continuations of the wall .I2. Mounted in andv closely tting the abutment .chambers I8, and 20 respectively, are cylindrical abutments 22, 23, both of which are mounted on and keyed, as by keys 24A, 24B respectively,.to 25 a 'shaft 24 which extends through naled in the vwall I2. n

Identical abutment members 22A, 23A are disposed in the chambers I9, 2`I respectively, these and is jourlatter abutment members being keyed as by keys 30 25A, 25B, respectively to the shaft 2 5. The shafts i3, 24 and 25, are so disposed that the abutment members 22, 22A turn in rolling contact with the related rotor I4, and the abutments 23, 23A with 1 the rotor I5.

, The arcuate walls IIIA, IBA. and ISA respectively surrounding the compressor. chamber III 4 26', 21 are, respectively cover plates for the cmpressorand combustion chambers, these plates being pressed against the lchamber walls and y the rotating membersin the 4chambers bysprings ou diametrically opposite sides to receive com- 55 28. Casing covers29, -3II respectively secured-as 50 b y bolts 43| hold the springs 28 against the cover plates. 32 are open spaces in the casing walls for'the circulation ofl'cooling water. f

The rotor Il is vinwardly slotted at 33B, 33C

kthe abutments' 23, 23A respectively arcuate depression in each abutment is such that the outei` end of the convex end of the vane`lies in the circle formed by a continuation of the cylindrical wall IIA or IOA of the chamber II, or I0, asthe case may be. Each of the vanes,

as the vane 34, is provided with a shoulder 36 at the rear side of the vane, as it turns in its chamber which shoulder contacts the peripheral surface of. the abutment 23, and prevents the vane from being forced too far outward as it moves into engagementwith the circular wall of the chamber.

The vanes 3 4, 34A in the combustion chamber Il are cut away at 3'I and the abutments 23, 23A in such chamber are under-cut as at 38, so that they may properly uncover ports 39, 39A leading into that chamber.

-Movement of the rotors I4-I5 and their related abutment members 2222A, 23-23A, are coordinated by gears 40', 4I and 4IA respectively mounted on and keyed as by keys 40A to the shafts I3, 24 and 25, the gear ratio being two to one. 42 is a casing housing the gearing.

From the compression chamber I0, apassageway 50 and a dlametrically opposite passageway 50A, lead into tiring chambers 5I and 5IA in the wall I2, Fig. 3. From these chambers the ports 39, 39A lead into the combustion chamber II.

Each of the passageways 50, 50A, as the passageway 50, is closed against return flow from its related ring chamber to the chamber I Il as by a checkvalve 52 which is normally held closed as by a spring 53. 54 is a spark plug, Fig. 4.

60 indicates a carburetor which is connected by suitable manifold members 6I, 62 to suitable passageways 63, 64 which lead into diametrically opposite portions of the chamber I0. 65, 66 are exhausts leading from diametrically opposite sides `of the combustion chamber I i. 61 and 68 indicate piping by which lubricating oil may be delivered to the abutment chambers.

It will also be understood that the details of construction are typical only and are introduced for purposes primarily of illustration.

The operation of the device isr as follows:

Assuming the parts in the intake and compression chamber to be positioned as shown in Fig. 3,

rotary movement of the rotor- I4 and its vanes toward the position shown in Fig. 6 will concurrently move the abutments 22-22A to the correspondingposition there shown, and'will establish intake chambers under vacuum, respectively between the abutment 22 and the vane ,33 `and between the abutment 22A and the vane 33A into which firing charges are drawn through the intakes 6364. This charging movement will con y tlnue until the vanes pass the opposite abutment gine ceases. The combustible gases so compressed members, after which a 'second charge will be drawn through the intakes behind the vanes and compression will occur in front of the `vanes and the abutments, toward which they are moving; such action continuing until operation of the enin front of the vanes will pass through the openings 50-50A past the check valves 52 into the firing chambers 5I--5IA, but will be retained from passage from such tiring chambers into the expansion chambers through the openings 39-39A by the abutments 23-23A, Figs. 1 and 5, until the cut away portions, 31 of the vanes, and 20, 2|l of the abutments uncover such openings. At such time by proper timing means not shown the charges are fired by the spark plugs 54 andescape through the openings 39, 39A into the annular expansion Vchambers against the backs of the vanes 34,34A. Thereafter expansion between the back of the vanes-and the abutments 23, 23A, as shown in Fig. 5, will continue impelling the said vanes forward and imparting power impulses to such vanes. Such expansion continues until the vanes last mentioned uncover the exhaust ports 65 and allow the spent charges to escape to the atmosphere, this cycle of operations continuingas long as actuating charges of gas are supplied through the carburetor and intake passages.

What I claim is:

1. In a rotary internal combustion engine, an annular casing, end walls completing a cylindrical enclosure and a division wall dividing said enclosure into two cylindrical compartments, concentric rotors of less diameter than said compartments disposed one in each thereof and forming therewith respectively annular compression and expansion chambers, an annular cylindrical casing intersecting a sideof said first casing and enclosing an abutment chamber which inter- -sects said cylindrical enclosure, a closely iltting cylindrical abutment in -said abutment chamber,

said abutment having an arcuate piston receiving recess therein, said abutment chamber being spaced from said central compartment to hold said abutment in rotary contact with said rotors, shafts journaled in the end walls and division wall of said casing, and having respectively secured thereon said rotors and said abutments, and gearing compelling synchronous movement of said rotors and said abutments; each of said rotors having a piston projecting therefrom tadapted to establish sliding contact with the peripheral wall of thesaid compartment and to engage and llsaid abutment recess; said division wall having a ring chamber therein, a passageway leading thereinto from said compression chamber adjacent one side of said abutment, Isaid passageway `having a check valve thereinpreventing return fiow to said compression chamber;

and a passageway leading from said firing chaminlet means to said compression chamber, and.

an exhaust passageway from said expansion chamber.

2. In a rotary internal combustion engine, a

annular casing, end walls completing a cylindrical enclosure and a division wall dividing said enclosure into twqcylindrical compartments, concentric rotors of less diameter than said compartments disposed one in each thereof and forming therewith annular chambers; 'diametrically opposite annular cylindrical casings intersecting each a side of said rstcasing and enclosing abutment chambers which intersect opposite sides.

of said cylindrical enclosure, closely tting cylindrical abutments one in each said abutment chamber, said abutments having each an varcuate aoaavss piston receiving recess therein, said abutment chambers being spaced from said compartments to hold said abutment in rotary contact with said rotors, and divide said chambers respectively into two compression and two expansion chambers, shafts journaled in the end walls and division wall of said casings, and having respectively secured thereon said rotors and said abutments, and gearing compelling synchronous movement of said rotors and their respective abutments; each of said rotors having diametrically opposite pistons projecting therefrom adapted to establish sliding contact with the peripheral wall oi its said compartment, and to engage and till saidV abutment recess, said division wall having two firing chambers therein, passageways leading from said compression chambers into said tiring chambers one into each, each said passageway being adiacent one side of a said abutment, said passageways each having a check valve therein preventing retum now to a compression chamber; andpassageways each leading from a said iiring chamber to a said expansion chamber, said latter passageways being normally closed by said abutment and by said piston therein, the rear portion of each said piston in said expansion chambers being cut away to form, with the abutment recess complementary thereto, an opening `adapted to uncover said latter passageway at predetermined intervals, charge iring means in said ming chambers, inlet means to said compression chambers, and exhaust passageways one from 'each expansion chamber.- A l ALBERT W. LINN. 

